Ivan Forenbacher

Hedonic modeling to explore the relationship of cell phone plan price and quality in Croatia

The study explores the use of hedonic indices for cell phone plans.Cell phone plan price and quality are studied in Croatia during 2009-2013.Hedonic price and quality indices are calculated for the first time in Croatia.Indices show slow fall in cell phone plan prices and rise in technological quality.Results are consistent with trends in European telecommunications market. Since 2009, the Croatian mobile market has been subject to various negative influences, including the economic crisis and a 6% telecommunication tax on mobile operator gross revenues. This paper took advantage of this tumultuous period to explore the effects of quality change on monthly price of cell phone plans in Croatia during 2009-2013. We used hedonic modeling to calculate hedonic price and quality indices over the period. The results indicate that cell phone plan prices slowly fell rather than rose, and that plan quality increased. The results are consistent with trends in other European countries with similar market conditions.

Data Traffic Offload from Mobile to Wi-Fi Networks: Behavioural Patterns of Smartphone Users

This paper presents a model for defining the behavioural patterns of smartphone users when offloading data from mobile to Wi-Fi networks. The model was generated through analysis of individual characteristics of 298 smartphone users, based on data collected via online survey as well as the amount of data offloaded from mobile to Wi-Fi networks as measured by an application integrated into the smartphone. Users were segmented into categories based on data volume offloaded from mobile to Wi-Fi networks, and numerous user characteristics were explored to develop a model capable of predicting the probability that a user with given characteristics will fall into a given category of data offloading. This model may prove useful for analysing smartphone user behaviour when offloading data.

Exploring Digital Divide in Mobile Phone Ownership: Evidence from Nigeria

In 2012, as part of its response to mobile digital divide, the Nigerian government introduced mobile phone subsidies to rural farmers and did not seem to have achieved the expected results. It was argued that no necessary analysis of socioeconomic factors affecting mobile phone ownership had been conducted previously. The paper took advantage of this period to examine socio-economic factors affecting the probability of mobile phone ownership in Nigeria. In order to estimate a logit model we used national representative data from DataFirst on households and individuals ICT access and usage in 2011-2012. In contrast to what had previously been thought, we found out that poverty may not be correlated with the probability of owning a mobile phone. Type of electricity source, education, and activity has the greatest effect on the probability of owning a mobile phone. The findings may help to improve more coordinated digital divide policy, and serve as a complement to ICT Roadmap 2017 to 2020 in Nigeria and similar countries.

Total Cost of Ownership Model for Three-part Cell Phone Plans

This paper presents a mathematical model for estimating total cost of ownership (TCO) of residential post-paid cell phone plans for mobile services in order to predict TCO over time. Several cost drivers of TCO are quantified, including calls, messaging, data transfers, and the choice of time unit for billing calls. The model may help analysts and end users alike optimize the cost, understand its components and principal drivers and ultimately choose the most cost-effective option among numerous cell phone plans from various operators, thereby reducing the risk of costly decisions based on irrational choices or biases.